March 6: 6:30 p.m. Murder, Suicide, or Accident?

As part of a series on the nine Heeger women who were the first to be born in the United States, Sarah Gehlert, along with distant Heeger cousin, Suzanne Pautler, focus on Erna Heeger. Erna was born in Jeffriesburg in Franklin
County in 1883 and died under mysterious circumstances in St. Louis in 1902. In this class session, we ask the audience to help decide if Erna’s death was murder, suicide, or an accident. Put on your thinking caps. You are in for a fascinating, but bumpy ride!

Sarah Gehlert is a semi-retired university professor and administrator with a background in Anthropology and Archeology. Her deep interest in Franklin Co. history is based on her upbringing in Union and her family’s background in the area. She and her spouse returned to the area to live in 2022. Dr. Gehlert volunteers at the 4 Rivers Genealogy Society. She has been researching the Franklin Co. descendants of her Great-Great-Grandfather Daniel Heeger since her return to Mo.

See Suzanne Pautler’s bio under the April 24 th class.